Salt Boiler's Ball

Dennis J. Connors – Curator of History/Onondaga Historical Association

Mr. Connors has worked in historical agencies since 1972 and as curator of history at the Onondaga Historical Association since 1999.  He was employed originally by the Association from 1992 to 1999 as its Executive Director, until the new curator of history position was created.  Previously he was the Supervisor of Historic Resources for Onondaga County Parks where he oversaw operations for the Salt Museum, Pioneer Museum and Ste. Marie among the Iroquois site.  He helped conceptualize and manage the $2.5 million renovation of Ste. Marie during 1989-1991.  He also oversaw major renovations to exhibits at the Salt Museum and Pioneer Museum.

Mr. Connors has a B.A. in History with a concentration in Museum Studies from the State University of NY at Buffalo.
           
He has served on the board of the Onondaga Citizens League, is a long-standing member of Thursday Morning Roundtable and is a past member and chair of the Syracuse Landmarks Preservation Board.  He recently served as a contributing author and editorial advisory board member for the New York State Encyclopedia Project.  Dennis Connors has authored and edited four books on Syracuse area history.  The most recent is entitled Crossroads in Time, An Illustrated History of Syracuse (Onondaga Historical Association 2006).

He lives in Syracuse with his wife Amy.  They are the parents of three sons.

Linda C. Loomis

Since 1965, Linda Loomis and her husband, Art, have lived in Liverpool, where their children, James, Kathryn and Kristin attended Liverpool Elementary, Middle and High School. A former newspaper reporter and editor, Loomis worked with Sharon Fulmer on the Liverpool Review for 20 years; during that time, the weekly newspaper was awarded local, regional, and national awards and Loomis was named the NYPA Writer of the Year in 1994. In 2000 she was named director of the Journalism program for SUNY Oswego, where she had previously been director of communications for the Office of Alumni and University Development and editor of the Oswego alumni magazine. She has taught writing courses in nonfiction, poetry and journalism as well as specialty courses in magazine, arts and environmental writing. She has been recognized with SUNY Oswego President’s Award for Excellence in Student Advisement and with an award from the National Academic Advising Association. Her name is on the Syracuse Press Wall of Distinction at the Mulroy Civic Center.

In working together, Sharon Fulmer and Linda Loomis took deep interest in and devoted much of their time to community causes and activities. They helped promote government and private initiatives to raise awareness of and support clean-up efforts on Onondaga Lake

Loomis is an active member of the Liverpool First Methodist Church.

Sharon R. Fulmer

A writer, editor and photographer, Sharon lived in Liverpool for 40 years with her husband David and their children. She was involved in many organizations and received numerous awards for her community service - always looking to make Liverpool the best  place to call home. A few of her extensive number of accomplishments included being President and Founding member of the Friends of Historic Onondaga Lake, co-chairman of the Willow Museum Committee, founder of the Gleason Mansion Restoration Project, co-founder of Liverpool is the Place. She was deeply involved in the restoration of Sainte Marie among the Iroquois and was very supportive in efforts to promote the Salt Museum. Sharon was also a member and leader in the Liverpool First United Methodist Church and was the editor of the Liverpool Review for twenty years. Sharon passed away on May 10, 2008. She will be greatly missed.

Rhoda L. Sikes

Rhoda joined the Friends of Historic Onondaga Lake soon after the organization was formed and in 1988 began assisting Elfrieda Oberst in operation of the fledgling Salt Museum Gift Shop. That fall she was appointed to an unexpired term on the Friends Board (leading to many other terms in the following years.) Rhoda became the gift shop manager in 1990. In 2004, when the Friends became involved in reopening the Sainte Marie among the Iroquois, Rhoda became manager of both the Sainte Marie Museum Store and Salt Museum Gift Shop.  

Rhoda taught kindergarten for thirty years in Brewerton and Nedrow, with most of her years spent at on Herman Street School in East Syracuse. She retired in 1987.
Since retiring, Rhoda has been involved in many other volunteer activities. She was secretary/treasurer of her bowling league and was a Read Out volunteer at WCNY for 25 years. She served as president of the Historical Association of Greater Liverpool at the time plans were made to create a building to house a donated willow steamer to compliment the new Willow Museum.

Presently, Rhoda serves on the ESM-NS Credit Union Board and as the Credit Union Supervisory Chairperson. She is also involved as treasurer of the Liverpool is the Place Committee, which plans and presents the Monday and Wednesday evening concerts at Johnson Park.

~ Back to Top ~